St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-06
IT COSTS A FORTUNE
TO Retain Control of the Water Power
at the Falls.
WORK OF THE SUMMER.
The East Side Company Has Quietly
Expended Over 100000 Dur
ing the Year.

Probably not 1000 people in Mime
apOlis, outside of those directly inter
ested. and the civil engineers who have
noted the work from professional stand
point. are aware of the magnitude of
the work that is being and has been
done during the past year on the st. An
thOny water power by the company.
1t seems almost incredible that nearly
5000 could be eXpened in one short
year on work of vast Importance and
so few people be cogniZant of the fact.
Yet such is the case, and were you to
ask man what the St. Anthony Falls
Water Power company had been doing
in the way of improvements recently,
the chances are ten to one that he would
tell you he did not know. or that he had
not heard of anything unusual going on.
Some years ago it was found that there
was great danger of Minneapolis losing
her water power, as the constant rush
ing of the water just below the sus-
pension bridge had undermined large
part of the limestone ledge which forms
the foundation OF the dam, and that the
whole structure was in imminent dan
ger, in case of high water, of going
get along as best they might.
The matter was placed in the hands
of the government officials, who re-
spOnded promptly and took action at
once. The way out of the difficulty was
an expensive way, but it had to be done.
After building several big cribs and
Golfer dams on each side and Just below
NicOllet island a wall of solid concrete
four feet thick was built beneath the
limestone ledge that was slowly wear
ing away and threatening disaster.
This wall extends clear across the river,
and VIII yield to nothing less than re-
peated blasts of dynamite.
The work that has been done on the
waterpOwer during the last year may be
properly divided into three heads-re-
building the new dam; dredging and re-
moving the old government pier, and
general repairs. OF the 100000 ex-
pended. over One-half was put in in re-
building, and two-thirds of the re-
mainder in general repairs. The aver
age number of men employed has been
$50. and they have all been kept busy.
1t was found when work first begun that
the old government piers were badly
worn and were exceedingly dangerous,
and so needed removal. The dredge
has been at work removing these piers
and deepening the channel. The dredg-
ing will be continued next season, and
the east channel will be made deeper
and the original channel restored
to its original depth, thus giving to
the different mills all the water they
are entitled to. The dredging was
begun November last, and was con-
tinued as long as was possible. About
10000 cubic yards of earth and stone
was removed. The new dam is rapidly
nearing completion, and work will he
continued until the immense structure
is finished. John T. Tanning, the en-
gineer of the Water Power company,
has the work in charge. The dam, when
completed, will be 1,400 feet long, be-
ginning at the Eastman tower. near the
platform" II is forty feet wide at the
base and sixteen feet high, built of the
heaviest timber Obtainable, and
strengthened with heavy masonry.
This. in all probability, is the last eX-
pensive work that will ever have to be
done on the fall. that is, ever in this age.